Hey Jerry,

How long (hours of play) does a typical Honer 1896 last you before you blow a reed and replace it? Seems like I'm buying new ones way to often.  The cost just keeps going up and I'm discouraged constintly buying  new ones every couple of months. Does playing softer help them last longer? When I watch you play it seems like your really driging in and playing  them hard. Could you comment on life span of typical hohner 1896 harmonicas and how to make them last longer?

There are various factors that impact how long any given harp will last. How much do you play one harp? How hard do you play it? Most people play them too hard, too much. Remember, volume and tone are not the same thing. Some last me a long time and others that I play more frequently have to be replaced more often. And sometimes there's a reed that succumbs to metal fatigue from the vibrations more easily. It's hard to really estimate. When I played regularly on the road I generally had to replace my A harp every week.